Scottish's Amor waits on four more signings (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Scottish's Amor waits on four more signings

10:46am Friday 8th July 2011 in London Scottish By Stuart Amos

London Scottish head coach Simon Amor says they are still four signings to be confirmed at the Athletic Ground this summer.

The Exiles chief signed robust Rosslyn Park second row Steve Pape this week to add to the growing list of new faces preparing for the club’s Championship debut.

Amor’s men will approach campaign with a squad of 45 full and part-time players for what will be a long first season in the second-tier of English rugby.

And the Hampton School student says he wouldn’t be surprised if the team is up and around the promotion play-offs come the end of the season.

“We got agreements on four more players, but until their contracts are back and signed you can’t say they are London Scottish players,” he said.

“We’re going to have a good squad with plenty of experience, particularly in the forwards, and there is a lot of potential there.

“Every team wants to be in the top eight and that is where we are aiming for. If we start well, hopefully, we’ll have a good season.”

England Counties international Pape beefs up a pack that will contain a large contingent of Barking forwards that dominated National League One last season.

“He is going to be a cracking player for us and is a player I’ve always wanted to sign,” he added.

“Barking were pretty much the best pack in the league last year and what they achieved with the resources they had was outstanding.”

The Exiles are also looking to sign some Premiership talent on dual registration contracts and the fact Scottish are training at Wasps this month is a hint of where some might come from.

“We don’t want to be reliant on loan players like some other teams are. They will supplement what we are trying to do,” said Amor, a former Wasps player himself.

“While the pitches are being re-seeded at Richmond, so training at Wasps is good opportunity to expose players to a Premiership environment.”